Fall is officially here, and that means football is taking center stage. While it hasn’t been bitterly cold yet, we all know that colder days are not far away. That thought is what led to this weather blog.

What You Need To Know

  • "Deflategate" was a football controversy in 2015

  • The ideal gas law was at play

  • Warmer temperatures can cause an increase in air pressure

  • Colder temperatures can cause a decrease in air pressure

Temperatures were frigid on that Jan. 2015 night in New England. The New England Patriots were hosting the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs. While the nation was watching, a controversy was brewing. Footballs were found deflated. The situation became referred to as "Deflategate."

The National Football League ruled that, at the request of Tom Brady, Patriots staff members let air out of their footballs. The thought behind this is that it would allow the star quarterback to grip the ball better.

The following day, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick referred to the ideal gas law for an explanation. He said that because of the cold air, the footballs naturally deflated.

What is the ideal gas law?

The ideal gas las is PV = nRT

P = pressure, V = volume, n = the amount of gas, R = ideal gas constant and T = absolute temperature of gas.

The equation can get complicated if we go too far into it, but I want to help make it a bit easier to understand.

The pressure and temperature of the gas are directly proportional. This means that as the temperature increases, the pressure also will increase. Think about it this way: On a hot summer day, the pressure inside your grill’s propane tank will be elevated, so propane tanks must be rated to withstand that increase in pressure.

In this same way, on a cold winter day in Foxborough, the pressure inside of a football could have decreased.

Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson intercepts a pass intended for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski during the AFC championship NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. on Jan. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

There are two schools of thought…

Non-Patriot fans believe that the team will do anything to win a game, including breaking the rules. Those who root for the team believe the theory that, just like car tires losing air in the winter, the weather controlled the air pressure inside of the football.

As a Western New York meteorologist–Bills fans, cover your ears–it is totally possible that the football could have been impacted by the bitter cold temperatures.

Ultimately, Tom Brady was suspended for four games after a court sided with the league's ruling that he was responsible for air being taken out of the footballs.

What do you believe?

Let me know on my social media accounts: Meteorologist Kaylee Wendt on Faceb​ook, Instagram, and Twitter!